Anderson recently joined RAL from the Washougal School District. She has a bachelor’s degree from Washington State University, her CTE from Central Washington University, and masters in both Administration and Counseling from City University.

In Washougal, Anderson was previously the principal of an alternative high school, Excelsior High School, for 3 years and an associate principal at Jemtegaard Middle School for 2 years. She also worked at Washougal High School as a counselor for 4 years and was an associate principal for 2 years.

“She’s a great match for RAL,” said Reeves, the new principal at RAL.

Anderson plans to encourage students to go to their classes and support them in a positive way. She believes it is student’s responsibility to come to school and be respectful and responsible.

“Increasing the learning at RAL is one of my main focuses,” Anderson said. “All students are capable of learning.”

This year, Anderson hopes for lots of student support and encouragement at sporting events. She also looks forward to successful dances and wants students to have a good time.

“I hope students can be respectful and show good sportsmanship and character at all school events,” Anderson said.

Outside of school, Anderson loves traveling, especially going out of the country. She also enjoys kayaking, snorkeling, music, theater and spending time with her family. She has two children and a grandson, Jude, named after the Beatles song “Hey Jude.”

“I love to travel, I go somewhere almost every school break,” Anderson said. “I go to Mexico every summer to do mission work. I go with students and we build about thirty houses and spend time with families.”

Anderson anticipates a great year and she hopes to improve RAL.

“I’ve noticed a great sense of pride and connection at RAL,” Anderson said. “I’m looking forward to learning more about the school and students as the year progresses.”

The pride of R.A.Long runs deep through the halls of the school, but not just with students. This year, we have Mr. Reeves, a returning alumnus with high hopes for this coming school year. Once a teacher at Monticello, and graduate of ’86, our principal is making his mark on the school yet again.

One of many of Reeves’ goals and the most important to him is establishing relationships with the student body.

“Everything starts with relationships…its important to be approachable.” Said Reeves.

“Student accomplishment is the number one priority,” Said Reeves, explaining the most important tasks of the principal. “You have to be able to walk the talk, if you say its number one priority, you have to be consistent.”

Consistency flows throughout all of principal Reeves’ responses, proving building relationships is truly an important task for him. “I see it as the end of my career not being defined as the number of plaques on my wall, but the success of the students I’ve come in contact with.” Said Reeves.

“Something I would be proud of is of the 225 seniors enrolled, that 225 of them walk at graduation.” Said Reeves, set on tackling the dropout issue and turning the image of RAL around.

A true Longview citizen, Reeves taught at Columbia Heights for a year, and at Monticello for ten, before switching over to assistant principal and principal for nine years altogether at McLoughlin Middle School.

 He was born and raised in Longview, on Lilac St. particularly. He has a daughter at MM strictly due to zoning, and a third grader set on being a Lumber Jill.

Reeves has fond memories of attending RAL, and according to Chris Fritch, a fellow graduate, “He was an outstanding student.” Said Fritch.

 “ He was well liked by all the peer groups and wasn’t really cliquey.” Said Linda Hawn, a district administrator.

We are all excited to see the changes he makes, and how his first year turns out.

“The English department, particularly the four Senior Seminar teachers, are working in collaboration to spend less money” Mrs. McIntyre said.

English teachers are printing less paper and making students take their own notes. They don’t print out extra copies of papers anymore, if students lose theirs they will have to copy someone else’s as well.

Transportation is now limited for all sports teams, one of our librarians and some of our janitors have been cut, all c-squad sports were removed, out computer lab monitor was cut, and the overall budget for classes is substantially lower.

 “If the economy gets worse, we will have to start cutting more things starting with low lining things like transportation,” said Principal Mr. Reeves.

Little things like librarians and computer advisors that teachers and students took for granted have been cut and are leaving students hurting.

“I used to go to the computer lab to work on homework during my free periods and now with Kelly Davenport cut from the staff the computer lab isn’t open all the time for me to do my work,” Jordy Mertz 10 said.

Students will now have to figure out other ways to get library help and computer help without the use of those helpful staff memebers.

So many staff members have been cut that the district office is offering employee counseling and resume writing in order help to get those cut employees back on track and finding other jobs. Davenport in the computer lab and Karla Peterson from the library are two of the cut RAL staff members that will truly be missed.

No one knows what turns the economy will make this year, but everyone is hoping to see it take a turn for the better so that no more cuts will need to be made next year.

Budget cuts have brought many brusque changes to RAL. Not only was our budget subject to change, but our staff has had to face many changes as well.

Mrs. Dickinson, who has been displaced from our cross-town nemesis MM, due to reduction in force, will be educating students in mathematics here at RAL.

 “I was never really into the school rivalry anyway,” said Dickinson

 Although Dickinson came from MM, we have done a sublime job at making her very comfortable here.

“The experiences have been very similar. Everyone, teachers, administrators, and students, have been so welcoming at RAL. I have felt right at home here,” said Dickinson

Dickinson has been situated in room 210, what many of us recall as Mr. Kolberg’s former teaching venue.

This will be Dickinson’s third year as an educator; her first year was at Lake Stevens, WA.

 She has a degree in both Chemistry and Mathematics from Western Washington University.  Therefore, it’s understandable if you cannot decipher the cryptic posters scattered throughout her room.

“I have always enjoyed math and science. I like things that have one right answer.  I majored in chemistry and math because they are very similar and build off of each other. I also like the challenge of trying to get students to enjoy math,” said Dickinson.

Dickinson’s family is very established in Longview Schools with her mother a former teacher at RAL and father a Principal for many years in Longview.

“My dad’s name is Jerry Westendorf, he was principal at several different elementary schools (he ended his career at Mint Valley).  My mom’s name is Penny Westendorf, she taught business classes at RAL for over 30 years,” said Dickinson.  

Mrs. Dickinson will be a valuable and well received member of the RAL family.

 Set in the king’s castle, the king, played by Isaac Klander 12 and Pantalone played by Jarrett Gosch 11 are brainstorming ways to cure the prince, played by MM’s Alec Hansen, who is ‘dying’ from terminal hypochondria.

The conclusion reached, is the prince needs some laughter to get healthy again. They pull out all the stops, preparing a big party.

Most importantly, bringing in the clowns. The amazing, hilarious, Truffaldino, played by Tyler Ankenman 12 to be precise. 

The ridiculous feats and entertainment brought to the young prince is sure to make anyone double over in laughter. With jousting, rubber chicken throwing, and cookies, there’s no way to keep a straight face.

But every story has to have a bad guy, and the epitome of bad is reached in the evil witch, Fata Morgana (Dun Dun Dunnnn) Played by Chelsea McDonald 10.

Fata Morgana puts a curse on the Prince, forcing him to fall in love with, three…juicy…oranges. Played by Kati Mulligan9, Hannah Kessler12, and MM’s Mercedes Cheslock11.

So the prince, clad in his best baking armor, and Truffaldino, reluctantly following along, make it to Creonta’s castle, where the three oranges are.

After encountering the gate of utmost horror played by Darren Johnson12, a rope of unutterable horror played by Erik Rakestraw10, a donkey of unspeakable horror played by Meisha Amnotte9, and a cook of about average horror played Kyra Dykstra10, the two rescue the oranges.

After the long journey, Truffaldino is quite parched and decides to open an orange. (After all, there are three of them)

He quickly realizes that the oranges are extremely dehydrated princesses. He opens up the second one, hoping to give the juice of that orange to the water deprived princess.

That orange is of course another princess, and Truffaldino unintentionally kills of two of the princes loves. The prince saves his third, and plans to marry her.

Fata Morgana tricks the prince and exchanges his princess for her evil minion, Smeraldina. The king makes him follow through with his marital promise, and Fata Morgana almost takes hold of the kingdom.

At the wedding dinner, the princess that vanished comes back as a dove, and saves the prince from marrying the evil Smeraldina.

All is resolved, the prince and princess are married, and everyone is happy!

Especially the audience, who leaves the theatre with split sides.

2008 was a record setting year in the box office. On August 31, 2008, after 45 days in release, The Dark Knight reached $500 million domestically, becoming only the second film in history after Titanic to cross the half-billion-dollar domestic milestone, as well as the only film of the 2000s decade. World-wide, this remake, made darker by supporting actor Heath Ledger’s death, grossed over 1 billion dollars.

“I really liked it,” said Skylar Clark 11, “It was creepy and exciting. I like the character of Batman best.”

The 81st Academy Awards commenced in January, 2009, with a little known movie called “Slumdog Millionaire” taking most of the titles, including Achievement in Cinematography, Achievement in Directing, Achievement in Film Editing, Achievement in music written for motion pictures (original score and song), Achievement in Sound Mixing, Adapted Screenplay, and Best Motion Picture of the Year.

“This was a really good movie,” said Alison Kolberg 9, “I liked the realism.”

Times recently released their top 50 list of most anticipated movies of the year. The top three include Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince, Public Enemies, and Star Trek. Other movies that made the list and have already been released include Watchmen, Monsters vs. Aliens, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (an Academy Award winner), Coraline, and Friday the 13^th.

On an overview of movies set for a 2009 release, a definite theme is evident. Many movies set to be released are not of original thought, but remakes of the past, some from as late as the 1970’s. Many critics deem this not enough time in between the original and the remake, but with such technological advances, it’s a waiting game to see if the new version is worthwhile.

2009 releases Top 50 according to TIMES:

50. Pink Panther 2

49. Friday the 13^th

48. Red Sonja

47. Night at the Museum 2: Battle of the Smithsonian

46. Fast and Furious*

45. Spy Hunter

44. Nine

43. Knowing

42. Them

41. Ninja Assassin

40. The Proposal

39. Planet 51

38. The Box*

37. Underworld: Rise of the Lycans*

36. Creature from the Black Lagoon*

35. G. I. Joe: Rise of Cobra*

34. Fanboys*

33. Inkheart

32. The Surrogates

31. The International

30. The Wolf Man

29. The Spirit*

28. A Perfect Getaway

27. The Birds

26. S. Darko

25. Hannah Montana

24. Dorian Gray*

23. Sherlock Holmes*

22. Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs

21. Nottingham*

20. Bride Wars

19. 2012

18. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

17. The Lovely Bones*

16. The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus*

15. Coraline

14. They Came from Upstairs

13. Transfomers: Revenge of the Fallen*

12. The Taking of Pelham 123

11. The Informant

10. Inglourious Basterds

9. Terminator Salvation

8. Monsters vs. Aliens

7. Avatar*

6. Angels and Demons*

5. X-Men Origins: Wolverine

4. Watchmen*

3. Star Trek

2. Public Enemies*

1. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

*=Hannah wants to see

“I was really nervous,” said Stacie Johnson 12, the student chosen to introduce Asher at the presentations.

Asher’s day first started with a campus tour, led by our very own Trevor Scott 11. He then moved right into his two school presentations, outlining his career as a writer and his inspiration for his bestselling novel.

“I’m really honored to be here,” said Asher in reference to Longview designating April 27 as ‘Jay Asher Day,’ “Next year I’m gonna make everyone in my family wear something crazy in recognition of my day.”

For those who have not heard about Thirteen Reasons Why, here is a brief summary: Hannah Baker commits suicide, and leaves behind 13 tapes, each tape detailing a reason why she decided to take her life. She sent these tapes on a mailing chain to 13 people just before she took the pills. The narrator is Clay, who receives a copy of the tapes and doesn’t know why. The novel outlines his physical and mental journey while listening to the tapes.

“The idea came to me when I went on a museum audio tour in Las Vegas, and the eeriness of someone’s voice talking when they weren’t there. Around that same time, a close relative of mine tried to commit suicide. It took me two years to put the idea together,” said Asher.

After Asher finished with his two presentations, he went to a local radio show to talk about his Thirteen Reasons Why.

He got no break after that. He toured various English classrooms and chatted with teachers. After school, there was a book signing for all of those who had received a copy of Thirteen Reasons Why in 13RW: Pass it On!, or who had their own copy. Someone even had their face signed.  

Following the book signing, there was a televised Book Chat session, hosted by KLTV, held after school, with an RAL student asking Asher questions about his novel and writing in general.

“Today’s really busy,” said Asher, “But it’s also a lot of fun. Longview is a great town.”

Grunge vocalist Kurt Cobain (Nirvana) and Eddie Vedder (Pearl Jam) battled for the spotlight, filling outdoor amphitheaters with thousands, and magically the stories told in their lyrics connected with people in many ways. Plain and simple, the goal was to make music, whether a band made fame or not.

Eventually, as usual music evolved, new trends moved in. The death of Kurt Cobain in 1994 marked an unofficial down turn in the success of that type of rock and roll.       

15 years later, we live in a musical era that consists primarily of rap, country, metal, and different types of rock that do not make anywhere close to the impact that the grunge movement did.

“Grunge wasn’t just music it was a style of life. I am very fortunate to have gotten to experience a band like Pearl Jam live at the height of the grunge hysteria,” says history teacher Jason Castro, who grew up in the Seattle area during the grunge height.

“I like the rhythm today, but the ‘f’ word being used as an adjective over and over again is a little much,” Castro also stated.

Today, musical talent exists just as much or if not more then it did 15 years ago, but it is taken for granted. It seems now the majority of musicians don’t even write their own music. A song writer is hired to write songs, and the musicians perform what is given to them.

All early 90’s grunge bands wrote their own music. They were gifted with the talent to compose their own lyrical music, and that is why many songs have gone down in history as some of the greatest rock and roll songs of all time.